A wildfire in California's iconic Big Sur region has expanded to more than 19,000 acres, threatening hundreds of structures and prompting evacuations as firefighters work to increase containment in rugged portions of the Los Padres National Forest. The Timber Fire, which ignited on August 8 and remains under investigation, has become one of California's largest active wildfires. While containment has steadily improved, the fire continues to burn through steep terrain near the Ventana Wilderness, forcing ongoing evacuations in parts of Monterey County.
Meanwhile, the Plaskett Fire ignited on Wednesday, south of the Timber Fire, and has since spread to 140 acres. The latest map provides residents and travelers with a look at the fire's footprint and evacuation zones as crews attempt to slow the blaze's advance amid persistent wildfire weather conditions. Newsweek reached out to the Timber Fire incident management team by email for comment.
As firefighters continue to battle the Timber Fire in Big Sur, authorities have not yet determined what sparked it. CAL FIRE's incident page lists the cause as "under investigation," and officials have not publicly said whether the fire was started by human activity, equipment, lightning or another source. The fire began on the evening of August 8 in the Los Padres National Forest southeast of Loma Vista and has since grown to more than 19,000 acres.
The ongoing investigation comes as crews work in steep, remote sections of the Ventana Wilderness, where hot, dry conditions have helped drive fire growth. According to CAL FIRE, critically low humidity, warm temperatures, and gusty winds have contributed to active fire behavior, with the blaze making runs through multiple drainages and spotting up to 2 miles ahead of the main fire. Investigators typically examine burn patterns, weather conditions and any potential ignition sources when determining a wildfire's origin.
However, as of Thursday, officials had not released findings regarding the Timber Fire's cause, and the investigation remained ongoing. The Plaskett Fire is in rugged terrain in southern Monterey County, within the Los Padres National Forest near the unincorporated coastal community of Plaskett in the Big Sur region. According to CAL FIRE, the blaze started on Forest Road 23S10 east of Los Burros Road, an area characterized by steep canyons, and limited access that can complicate firefighting efforts.
The fire is south of the larger Timber Fire and has prompted evacuation orders and warnings for nearby residents as crews work to slow its spread in the mountainous backcountry. The latest fire maps show two active wildfires in Big Sur. The larger Timber Fire has burned 19,296 acres in the Los Padres National Forest southeast of Loma Vista and was 21 percent contained as of Thursday morning.
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